Code translating system



Feb. 7, 1961 A. H. FAULKNER CODE TRANSLATING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 9. 1954INVENTOR.

- ALFRED H. FAULKNER ATTY.

United States Patent CODE TRANSLATING SYSTEM Alfred H. Faulkner,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 9, 1954, Ser. No. 454,960

7 Claims. (Cl. 235-92) The present invention relates in general to acode translating system and more particularly to a code translatingsystem wherein a count registered in an electronic counter is translatedto operate corresponding relays of a five relay code unit which in turnoperate lamps in a display panel in the manner disclosed in Patent No.2,121,164, issued to Robinson on June 21, 1938, to form a digitconfiguration corresponding to the operated relays and therefore thecount in the electronic counter. The subject matter of the presentinvention may be considered in conjunction with the type of electroniccounter disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 425,070,filed April 23, 1954, wherein a number of elec tronic decade counters,each comprising a scale of two and a scale of five counter, areindividually utilized for the purpose of registering counts from 0 to 9,to 99 etc.

In the present arrangement each decade counter has associated therewitha four level stepping switch which is operated at predetermined timeintervals when a count is to be translated from the electronic counterto the five relay code unit and from there to the display lamps. Thefirst and second levels of the stepping switch are interconnected withthe various tubes of the counter so that when their respective wipersreach contacts corresponding to the count in the counter, a control tubeis conditioned for terminating the operation of the stepping switch.Corresponding contacts on the other two levels of the stepping switchare then interconnected with the relays of the associated five relaycode unit corresponding to the count. Ground is then forwarded over thewipers and selected contacts of the last two levels of the switch tooperate the relays corresponding to the count registered in the countingtubes to in turn cause a corresponding digit configuration to bedisplayed in the light panel individually associated with the five relaycode unit and decade counter in a manner disclosed in the aforementionedpatent.

My co-pending application filed June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,099, nowPatent No. 2,822,982, granted February 11, 1958, pertaining to a codetranslator for an electronic counter of the type disclosed in the firstmentioned application specifies what relays of the five relay code unitindividually associated with the decade counters are operated for everyregistration in an associated counter.

A similar correspondence is used in the present invention.

Although the present invention relates to the same subject matter as thelast co-pending application, its arrangement is such as to provide amaximum of economy by elimination of the translating relays andvsimplification of the control equipment. Further advantages are to benoted in the manner in which a zero registration in one decade counteris transferred to its associated lamps if a higher valued decade counterhas a value registered therein other than zero.

The drawing disclosing the subject matter in the in switch and tubeindividually associated therewith and the two control relays common toall the decade counters including those not shown. A stepping switch ofany well-known type, having a motor magnet for stepping the wiper ofeach level to each of the ten contacts on a level in sequence, isassociated with each decade counter. The wipers of each switch areactually mounted in a shaft, which in turn is controlled by the motormagnet to advance the wipers. A set of three off-normal springsO.N.S.-1, 2, and 3 are individually associated with each switch, and arearranged to be closed in the home posiiton, which corresponds to thecontact marked zero. The off-normal springs are operated by a cammounted on the shaft, which in turn is operated by the electromagnetM.M. The numerous circuit connections of the decade counter are omitted,however, reference may be made sponds to zero and the'wip'ers' of S1'-Aand 81-8 are on to the first mentioned application for the same and fora description of the manner of registration of a count.

The count registered in the decade counter disclosed is Zero asindicated by the conductive condition shown for the left triode of tubeV1 and the right triode of tube VA. Counts between 14 inclusive areregistered when a left triode of one of the tubes VZ-VS respectively isconductive while the right triode of tube VA is maintained conductive.Counts 6-9 inclusive are registered when a left triode of one of thetubes V2-V5 respectively is conductive and the left triode of VA isconductive instead of the right. If the count of five is registered allleft triodes are extinguished except the respective left triodes oftubes V1 and VA. The particular manner in which each count is registeredin the various tubes of each decade counter on the registration of acount is explained in the previously mentioned application.

The left triodes of tubes V1V5 inclusive are individually connected tocontacts of the second level 51-8 of switch S-l through leads 0-5, 1-6,27, 38 and 4-9, while the right triode of tube VA is connected inmultiple to contacts 0-4 inclusive of level Sl-A over lead 04 and itsleft triode is connected in multiple to contacts 5-9 inclusive of levelSl-A over lead 59. When a triode is non conductive a voltage ofapproximately volts positive exists on the contacts to which it isconnected. The reason for the 100 volt potential on the plate circuitand the associated contacts of a nonconductive tube instead of the fullvolt supply potential is that additional circuits, not shown, drawcurrent through the plate circuit resistor as is illustrated in thepreviously mentioned application and cause a voltage drop through theplate resistor even though the tube is nonconductive. A conductivetriode causes the voltage to drop to about 50 volts on the contacts itis connected to.

Relay RA common to all the decade counters is operated at apredetermined time by a momentary ground pulse over lead ST, applied inany well-known manner, to energize the lower winding of relay RA so thatit operates to close contacts 6, 7 and 8. Simultaneously a furtherregistration of a count in the decade counters is prevented in anywell-known manner. At contacts 7 a positive 75 volts is applied to thecathode of tube VR individual to the decade counter shown and thecathodes of the corresponding tubes individually associated with otherdecade counters. At contacts 6 a locking circuit is provided for thelower winding of relay RA over contacts 11. Slow-to-release relay RE isoperated by ground .at.

contacts 8, close contacts 12 and open contacts 11 to open the lockingcircuit to the lower winding of relay. RA. lie-. v

lead LG arid release all the operated relays of all'the,

five relay code unitsindivid'ually associated with the decade counters.

If as is shown, the count in the decade counter corretheir respectivezero contacts a 50-volt potential is applied to both grids of tube VRover leads -4 and '05 respectively and tube VR cannot fire. Then switchS-1 cannot be stepped from the position shown as R1 fails to operateand-"completes circuit for the stepping 'niagnet MZM.; Assn/itch S-1is'not operated, its on normal springs O.N.S.-I areopen andgr'oun'dcannot-beforwarded t'o' leads CandDto operate the corresponding r'elaysof the 5 relay code unit tocause the digit zero tolbe unnecessarilydisplayed-in light panel unless the switch associated with a highervalued decade counter is operated. This will be explained.

Now, assuming that the count in the disclosed decade counter is otherthan'zcr o', either lead 04 or 0+5 or both are at +100 volts andtherefore one or both triodes of tube VR are fired. Firingof tube VRcompletes an energizing path for relay Rland the .upper'w indin'g ofrelay RA so that RA maintains contacts 6, 7, Sand 9 operated after relayRB opens the locking circuit'to the lower windingof relay RA.Rectifi'r'25 limits the voltage drop across relay RA to 30 volts so thatat least 150 volts is supplied to relay R1 and tube VR to provide 75volts across the tube and relay with the 75 volt potential con nected tothe cathode of the tube.

Relay R1 in the plate circuit of tube VR operates to close contacts 1and complete an obvious circuit to the motor magnet M.M. M.M. isenergized and opens its own circuit at its self-interrupting contactsand on deenergization steps the wipers of levels Sl -A, Sl-B, Sl-C andSI-D'of switch S1. On deenergization the selfinterruptingcontacts closeand M.M. is again energized to open these contacts and deenergize itselfto again step the wipers. In this manner M.M. steps the wipers of switchS1. If the Wiper of Sl-A encounters the 50 volt condition in passingover its associated contacts, the left triode oftube VR is extinguished.However, relay R1 remains operated if the right triode'of the tube VR isconductive to in turn enable the M.M. to continue stepping the switch.If the reverse condition occurs and the wiper of Sl-A encounters the+100 volt condition while the wiper of Sl-B encounters the 50 voltcondition, R1 is maintained operated by the conductive left triode oftube VR; When the wipersof 51 A and 81-13, each simultaneously encountera 50 volt potential impressed on 'an' associated contact by conductivetriodes of the counter, both triodes of tube VR are extinguished torelease relayRIi and deenergize the upper winding of relay RA to causeits release. Relay R1 on release opens contacts 1 to prevent furtherstepping by M.M. and switch S--1 remains in the position correspondingto the count registered in its associated decade counter. Release ofrelay RA enables new registrations to be made in the decade counters inany well-known'manner.

When contacts'9 close on release of relay RA ground is forwarded overcontacts 12 (which remain up as relay RE is sloW-to-release),ol'f-normal'springs O.N.S.1, lead D'-'-1,' wipers Sl-C and Sl-D and therespective contacts on which these wipers have stopped and the selectedone of leads A, B, C, D and E to operate the relays of the five relaycode unit corresponding to the count in the decade counter and therebythe lamps of the associated panel. As previously mentioned the relaysoperated for any particular count are shown in the aforementioned secondapplication and a correspondence exists between the designation of leadsA, B, C, D and B and the relays of the 5 relay code unit. A momentlater'relay RB re leases to open contacts 12 and remove ground from thewipers of Sl-C and Sl-D, while ground forwarded over locking lead'LGmaintains the operated'relays of the code 11 perated until the next timerelay RA is operated.

this positionthe next time relay RA is opfiidldbs the 1 I??? W i h ea mae 54 9 Wiwh 5 was n he qsit gpftbfwhi h t e. efi t aili if fl ter. rsi aar mad in; the 'as'sociated decade counter, an'd it will'not move from,

tube VR is still connected to both grids of tube VR prevents relay -R-1from operating. If, however, the registration in the decade counter ischanged, tube VR becomes conductive after relay RA is operated as thepotential on one or both of the leads to which the grids of tube VRthrough their respective levels of switch 8-1 will now be at the voltpotential. The switch is stepped to search for the leads having the 50volt potential thereon and corresponding to the registrationinthe decadecounter in the manner described. 7

Assuming a count of zero in the decade counter shown,

after relay RA operates the switch remains or is moved to the positionshown. The offnormal springs O.N.S.-1 in the position shown are open andprevent ground from being forwarded to lead -D1 and levels SI-C and Sl-Dof the switch. But if a higher valued decade counter, such as isassociated with leads D-Z or D3, has a count other than zero registeredtherein, their respective associated stepping switches are operatedafter relay RA operates in a manner similar to that described forswitchS-l. On release of relay RA and closure of-contacts 9 ground isforwarded through the contacts of the offnormal springs associated withthe higher valued decade counter such as O.N.S.2, lead D-Z, the wiperscorre sponding to S1C and S1- D and their selected associated contactsand to the five relay code circuit associated with that decade counter,rectifier 27, lead D-l, wipers and contacts 0 of levels 51-0 and Sl-Drespectively and leads C and D respectively to the relays of the fiverelay code corresponding to the value zero to operate these relays'todisplay a digit configuration of zero in the associated lamp display. Ifzero is registered in the decade counter associated with O.N.S.2 and avalue other than zero registered in the counter associated withO.N.S.-3,- springs O.N.S.-3 and rectifier 26 are effective to forwardground in a manner similar to that described for causing a zeroconfiguration to be displayed in the appropriate lamp panels.

Thus having described a translating system for an electronic counterwhich is novel, simple, efficient and economical, but not wishing tolimit myself to the exact arrangement shown herein, I have described inthe following claims the subject matter I believe encompassesmyinvention.

What is claimed is: 1. A code translating system for use in translatinga count registered in an electronic valve counting circuit to anindicating means of the type requiring the coincidental operation of atleast two electromagnets corresponding to a registered countamong aplurality of more than two electromagnets for operating said indicatingmeans to indicate a count corresponding to the count registered in saidcounting circuit, the improvement comprising: a switch operated inaccordance with a count registered in said counting circuit toselect twoelectroditferent onesof said counts, the improvement comprising acontrol valve, selecting means operated undercontrol of said controlvalve to a positioncorresponding tothe count registered: insaid countingcircuit, and controlled-- means thereafter.- rendered effective by saidselecting means in'said position for operating the pair of said;electromagnets corresponding "to said registered count whereby saidcountis displ'ayed by said indicating-i arrangement.

Af ys m, su h; s sla msd n. c a m. n. hi hi a d electin m a ampu es wtch. h v nsja plu ality of contact banks and respective wipersassociated therewith, means for marking certain of said contact banks inaccordance with a count registered in said counting circuit, and meansfor operating said switch in accordance with the marking on said certaincontact banks to move said wipers to a position corresponding to saidcount.

4. A system such as claimed in claim 3, in which said selecting meansincludes the other contact banks of said switch.

5. In a system such as claimed in claim 4, a unidirectional circuitconnecting the wipers associated with said other contact banks tocorresponding wipers of a switch associated with another plurality ofelectromagnets, and means effective only in response to the wipersassociated with said other contact banks being moved to a particularposition for forwarding a potential over said unidirectional circuit toenable operation of certain of said other plurality of electromagnets.

6. A plurality of systems such as claimed in claim 2, and meansindividual to each system rendered effective in response to theregistration of a predetermined count in the associated counting circuitfor preventing the operation of a pair of associated electromagnetsunless a particular count is registered in another counting circuit.

7. A system such as claimed in claim 2, in which said electroniccounting circuit comprises a plurality of electronic valves some ofwhich are conditioned in one manner and others of which are conditionedin another manner to register a count, and said means conditioned inaccordance with the count comprises a control valve, a switch operatedunder control of said control valve to connect said control valve tosaid counting circuit valves in a particular order, and means forconditioning said control valve to terminate operation of said switch inresponse to the connection of said switch to said valves conditioned insaid other manner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,325,409 Leathers July 27, 1943 2,335,755 Haddad Nov. 30, 19432,401,621 Desch June 4, 1946 2,404,739 Mumma July 23, 1946 2,745,093Holman et al May 8, 1956 2,793,806 Lindesmith May 28, 1957

